At least five people are dead and many more injured as several fires broke out across Southern California amid historically dry and windy conditions.

At least 11 people killed, around 12,000 structures destroyed; fires consume about 56 square miles (142 square kilometres), an area larger than the size of San Francisco.

The wind-driven wildfires burning out of control in the Los Angeles area couldn't have emerged at a more perilous moment for California's homeowners, as officials try to rehab what they concede is a deepening "insurance crisis.

Insurance is going to be even harder to come by, and it is going to get incredibly more expensive than it already is. People need to be prepared for that,” said Mark Newman-Kuzel, president and owner of The Mark Newman-Kuzel Agency in Los Angeles,

The wildfires that destroyed homes in multiple sections of the Los Angeles area will test California’s efforts to stabilize the state’s insurance marketplace after many insurers stopped issuing reside